Hello! has anybody ever done a restoration on a t bird? doing a # matching car? I am kind of new at this and I am trying to collect now parts for the resto. My question today is about  an exhaust valve or heat riser. Can any body tell me about the casting numbers for this part? I have one and the seller claims it is an nos part, but I cant find any numbers on the part! not that i doubt the seller but I dont want to install the part and then have to take it out again because the seller and myself were wrong! I am begining to find out that just buying now parts is risky. Thanks Guys

If you've not already done so, suggest you join the Classic Thunderbird Club International (CTCI).  They offer a wealth of information on 55-57 birds, have an editor who answers questions about authenticity, and even sell a restoration manual with all the info needed to restore birds.  There is a web site (www.CTCI.org) which in addition to much technical info also provides info on becoming a member.  They have a bi-monthly magazine with lots of tech info and a classified ad section which can be a good source for parts.

You looking for numbers for internal engine parts? Nobody examines these.



Get the manual mentioned. and have your client (and you) join CTCI. They have an authenticity blurb that you can follow. These are the items CTCI judging looks for in this catagory.

54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

Go here to get a look, and make sure yours looks like this (hit the down arrow until page 63)

http://www.classicautoparts.com/pdfindex/tbird/TransmissionRadiatorCoolingGasTanksAndRelated.pdf

I have had and still have one or two of these "flappers" for 50's and 60's Fords and have never seen a cast-in part number or even a date code that I recall.

Brian

Cylinder Index = 84

Current Experiment = `57 Tbird, Grand Rapids, Michigan

I was wondering, what client would that be?

thanks guys, I joined the ctci club yesterday, Brian are you restoring your bird now?

I thought I remembered from an earlier posting that you were restoring a TBird for a customer. I guess I was wrong?

54 Victoria 312;  48 Ford Conv 302, 56 Bird 312
Forever Ford
Midland Park, NJ

It is generally agreed that the "All numbers match" thing applies to Scrubs (those cars with bowties) not Fords.  It is my understanding that there are fewer SN's on the components of Ford products and that the key thing for T birds in this regard is that the components put in the car agree with the date code on the data plate as to design.  One of the CTCI clubs has the original FoMoCo buildup sheets for most '56 and '57 Birds. Check to see if they have yours.  There are a lot of other things to consider in building a CTCI senior points car but IMHO they are so specialized that they are of limited interest to the more engine oriented people on this site. 

Doug T

The Highlands, Louisville, Ky.

    Try Amos Minter out Dallas, Texas way--He's probably the guru for restoring '55-'57 T-birds,justsearch "Amos Minter" on your computer. You see his restorations on Barret-Jackson,Meccum,etc. KID